Lineman{3 s tool-holding fixture

ABSTRACT

A lineman&#39;&#39;s tool-holding fixture for carrying out operations on a wire or cable from a position on a power pole. A characteristic feature of the fixture is the provision on the end of an elongated pole or handle of a universally adjustable head member that enables the lineman to effect an efficiently aligned operative relationship between the tool and the wire or cable so that such operations may be accomplished with minimum discomfort or danger to the lineman.

1451 June 10, 1975 United States Patent 1 1 Hall et al.

1 i LINEMANS TOOL-HOLDING FIXTURE [761 Inventors: Barnes R. Hall. 4882 Hartwick 51.,

Los Angclcs, Calif. 90041: Ralph W. Hanna. 4724 Barnard St. Simi Valley. both of Calif. 93065 {22] Filed: July 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 377.768

[52] US. Cl 294/19 R; 403/77 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 13/06 [58] Field of Search 403/77; 294/19 R, 20, 22, 294/23, 53.5; 81/3 R, 53.1; 403/76, 90- 115 137 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.167599 l/l9l6 Sanford 403/77 l,43l 29(l lO/l922 Daggctt r. 403/77 X l 744,356 1/1930 Bodendieck 294/19 R X 2.379.433 7/1945 Hemmerling 294/l9 R 2.720.410 10/1955 Smith 1. 294/19 R 3.670.390 6/1972 Bizosku r. 294/19 R X Primary Examiner-Evan C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny Dr Cherry [57] ABSTRACT A linemans tool-holding fixture for carrying out oper' ations on a wire or cable from a position on a power pole A characteristic feature of the fixture is the provision on the end of an elongated pole or handle of a universally adjustable head member that enables the lineman to effect an efficiently aligned operative relationship between the tool and the wire or cable so that such operations may be accomplished with minimum discomfort or danger to the lineman.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LINEMANS TOOL-Ht )LIIING FIXTURE 1. Field of the Imention Servicing. and/or repairing of power lines. as well as telephone line wires or cables.

2. Description of the Prior Art A professional search in the related art turned up the following related art: Ser. Nos. 3.571.851. 3.159.955. 2.720.4ltl; 1.744.3561835J6t).

It is believed that none of the above patents touch on applieants approach to the safe and efficient servicing. repairing etc. of power wires or cables from a position on one of the power poles between which such wires or cables span.

The Thurston US. Pat. No. 3.U ).955 suggests the lineman's position when carrying out certain cutting. brushing. scraping. and ratcheting operations. among others on overhead wires. The Smith l..'.S. Pat. No. 2.720.410 at 20.31 shows the conventional type ofcon nections between parts in which inter-locking radially arranged lugs provide for angular adjustment on fixed increments. between a handle and a tool. It is this fixed increment adjustment that the present invention seeks to improve on.

In any case. the above art is deemed to have no teachings of applicants approach to providing for a safe. convenient. and accurately adjustable means for providing a desired angular relationship between an elongated handle and the tool that is affixed to the end thereof. whereby a lineman. from his precarious position atop a power pole. can carry out operations on a wire or cable safely and expeditiously under conditions where the tool is to be applied to the wire or cable in differently spaced relations to the linemans position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A fixture of the character referred to that has means for a fixed connection to a tool for performing cutting. brushing. scraping and other operations on an overhead wire or cable spanning between two power line poles from a position on one of said poles. such fixed connection of the tool being selected on a fixedincrement basis at the time the tool is so affixed. The linesman may find that such a pre-selccted position of the tool may not provide for a proper operational relationship between the tool and the cable. In such case. the tool. which is provided with universally adjustable means that is conveniently operated with one hand (the other hand holding onto the handle on which the fixture is affixed). enables changing the position of presentation of the tool to the cable so the tool may carry out its operation with maximum efficiency and safety of the lineman. Such change from the pre-selected po sition may be varied in minute variable increments as conditions dictate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tool-holding fixture of the character referred to which provides not only for accurate presentation of the tool to the cable. it does so in the manner that insures the safety of a lineman carrying out the operation from a position on a power line pole.

Another object of the invention is to combine. in a fixture as herein referred to. a fixed-increment angular connection between the fixture and the tool. and uni- \ersally adjustable means for re-adjusting the angular relationship between the tool and the fixture. whereby the position of presentation of the tool to the cable is corrected.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation. convenient in use. easily installed in a working position and easily diseonneeted therefrom. economical of manufacture. relatively simple. and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts. which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. which is based on the accompanying drawing. However. said drawing merely shows. and the following specification merely describes. one embodiment ofthe present invention. which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings. like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view. partly in elevation. of a fixture according to the invention and shown mounting a tool for operating on a wire or cable. said fixture being shown in the end of an elongated handlev FIG. 2 is a plan view as seen from the tool-mounting end of the fixture. the elements of the fixture being in a different position.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of two elements of said fixture in separated position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present fixture comprises. generally. a body 5 that is affixed. as by a bolt or bolts 6, to an end of an elongated handle 7, here shown as a rod or pole. a connector member 8 housed in said body. means 9 for adjusting the operative position of member 8. and a head member 10 universally adjustably fitted to the connector member 8 and retained in operative position by the body 5.

The tool 11 that is shown in FIG. 1 as a rectangular form having operative engagement with a wire or cable 12 is intended to represent a wire cutter. brush or scraper. a ratchet device. or any of the tools commonly used by linemen to perform a variety of operations or function on a wire or cable from a position on a power line pole.

Tool-holding fixtures that are in common use. incorporate an extension that has similar ends that provide for fixed-increment adjustment-one end to the body of the fixture that is affixed to the handle. and the other end to the tool. Since fixed-increment adjustability at both ends ofsuch a member does not afford the ability to effect an exact angular relationship between the handie and the tool 11. the accuracy of the work required of the lineman is deleteriously affected. From the hereafter detailed fixture. it will be seen how a lineman. while holding the handle 7 in one hand. has the other free for making adjustments of varying increments between the handle and the tool to effect an angular relationship between said handle and said tool such that the lineman can position the tool 1] in proper aligned or angled relationship. as the case may be. between the handle and the tool.

In greater detail. the body 5 is shown as comprising apart I5 fastened to the end of the handle 7 as by a bolt or bolts 6. and a housing part 16 that is shown as threadedly connected to the part and defining a cy lindrical chamber 17. An arcuate slot 18 is formed in the cylindrical wall of part 16 and diametrally opposite thereto a notch 19 is formed in said wall. An end wall 20 is provided at the end of the part I6.

The connector member 8 comprises a cylindrical part 21 that slidingly and rotationally is fitted in the chamber 17. said member 8, by means of a threaded stud 22 extending from the body part 15. is engaged with a screw seat 23 in the lower portions of part 21. A laterally extending handle 24 extends from part 21 through the arcuate slot 18 in housing part 16. Rotative movement of handle 24, due to the threaded adjusting means 9. will cause projection or retraction of member 8 according to the direction of said rotativc movement of handle 24.

The connector member 8 is provided with a hemispherical seat or socket 25 and the end wall 20 of the housing part 16 is formed to have a partly circular and complementary extension 26 that combines with the socket 25 to retain the universally adjustable head member 10 in locked position at a chosen angle of adjustment relative to the axial extent of the handle 7.

The head member 10, at one end thereof is provided with a ball 27 of a size to fit the socket 2S and to be re tained in said socket by the circular extension 26 thereof when the connector member 8 is projected, as above described, thereby tightly clamping ball 27 to the fixture 5. A member 29 on the opposite end of arm 28, which extends from the ball 27, is provided with the usual fixed-incremental locking part 29 that is shown with the usual uniformly spaced, angularly arranged locking segments 30 designed to have interfitting engagement with similar teeth on a lug 31 on a tool 11. Means. such as a wing screw 32, is conventionally provided to lock the assembly of member 10 and tool 11. at a selected included angle.

lt will be understood from the foregoing that the member 28 may be secured to the tool 11 at an approximate and pre-determined included angle and that such a connection may be carried out by the lineman with both hands, either on the ground or from his position on the pole. Then, in order to insure the mentioned exact angular relationship desired between the handle and the tool, the ball and socket adjustment may efficiently carry out to bring the tool into operative contact with the cable and thereby effect a change of the angle between the handle 7 and the tool 11, as desired. It is now a simple matter to clamp the ball and socket connection by the simple manipulation of the handle 24.

It will be noted from the foregoing that the present fixture provides for a non-incremental and universal adjustment which. due to the ball and socket connection enabling the ball to be rotated in all directions in its socket so the angular relationship between the handle 7 and tool 11, in all planes, may be effected. This is in contradistinction to the abovedescribed fixed incremental adjustments only and provides the accuracy of adjustment between the fixture and the tool. as herein described.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is not contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. the construction is. of course. subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A lineman's fixture for holding a tool in operative engagement for carrying out operations on an electrically conducting wire or cable spanning between power line poles. said fixture being affixed to the end of an elongated handle and comprising:

a body secured to an end of said handle and having a cylindrical cavity beyond the end thereof.

a connector member disposed within said cavity and threadedly connected to said body to move both longitudinally and rotationally. said member being provided with a laterally directed handle that extends through an opening in said body and which. when moved in a plane transverse to length of the handle. effects the mentioned movement of the connector member.

said connector member and the outer end of the body being formed to provided a substantially hemispherical seat, and

a head member provided at one end with a ball that is fitted in said seat. is adjustably rotational therein when the connector member is moved rotationally to separate the head and body portions ofthe hemispherical cavity, thereby permitting universal adjustability of the head member in relation to the body, and is clamped against such universal movement when the connector member is moved to cause the same to move in the opposite direction and thereby effect clamping of said ball in fixed adjusted position relative to the mentioned body.

said head member having an arm portion extending from said ball, with a tool-connecting end that has fixed-incremental adjustable engagement with a wireor cable-engaging tool.

2. A linemans fixture according to claim 1 in which the body thereof is provided with a notch that opens on the hemispherical seat, the arm portion of the head member extending through said notch to enable angular adjustment of the head member. as well as rotational adjustment of the head member. 

1. A lineman''s fixture for holding a tool in operative engagement for carrying out operations on an electrically conducting wire or cable spanning between power line poles, said fixture being affixed to the end of an elongated handle and comprising: a body secured to an end of said handle and having a cylindrical cavity beyond the end thereof, a connector member disposed within said cavity and threadedly connected to said body to move both longitudinally and rotationally, said member being provided with a laterally directed handle that extends through an opening in said body and which, when moved in a plane transverse to length of the handle, effects the mentioned movement of the connector member, said connector member and the outer end of the body being formed to provided a substantially hemispherical seat, and a head member provided at one end with a ball that is fitted in said seat, is adjustably rotational therein when the connector member is moved rotationally to separate the head and body portions of the hemi-spherical cavity, thereby permitting universal adjustability of the head member in relation to the body, and is clamped against such universal movement when the connector member is moved to cause the same to move in the opposite direction and thereby effect clamping of said ball in fixed adjusted position relative to the mentioned body, said head member having an arm portion extending from said ball, with a tool-connecting end that has fixed-incremental adjustable engagement with a wire- or cable-engaging tool.
 2. A lineman''s fixture according to claim 1 in which the body thereof is provided with a notch that opens on the hemispherical seat, the arm portion of the head member extending through said notch to enable angular adjustment of the head member, as well as rotational adjustment of the head member. 